Frequently Asked Questions

Plumbing & HVAC Services in Orlando

At ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing, our team is committed to
providing thorough, dedicated service when you need it most. To ensure
that all your needs are met, we have answered a few of the questions we
are asked most frequently. If you have any further questions, please feel
free to reach out to us!

I use the standard 1″ filters, how often should I change my filter?
On the more expensive pleated filters, the instructions on the packaging
say that it will last 90-days.

This really depends on a few factors… What time of year is it? What
type of living situation do you have: Kids vs. no kids / Pets vs. no pets
/ Hard flooring surfaces vs. carpeting. Our answer is this: During the
times of year that you are running your homes heating or a/c system, you
should check the filter every 30 days. We even suggest changing it or
inspecting it the day you pay your power bill. When you put a new
filter in your system, take a marker and write the date that you installed the
filter, it will serve you well down the road when you go to inspect it
in 30-days. When the system is being used regularly, you will find that
the filter has dirt or discoloration at the end of 30-days, change it.
Some try to push the filter life to the 60 or 90 day point to save money,
but in all actuality, it’s most likely costing them more money,
because the system is now working harder to cool or heat your home. It
also can contribute to more repair and maintenance costs.

What type of filter should I use?

We highly encourage customers to consider having a thicker 5″ media
air cleaner installed with their homes heating and cooling system. It
requires less maintenance, catches more and smaller particulate, provides
the best airflow for your home, and least amount of energy usage.

If you don’t want or cannot fit the larger media air cleaners, we
highly recommend the MERV 8 pleated 1″ filters to fit your system
or return air grill.

The best way to decide what is right for you, is to discuss the options
when you have your maintenance completed on your cooling and
heating system. Our technicians are pro’s at helping you figure out what is best
and right for your home and lifestyle.

What is a HEPA air cleaner and should I get one?

HEPA is an acronym that stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance.
For a filter to be a HEPA filter, it has to meet certain standards set
for the the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The main standard is for it to be 99.7%
efficient on particulate at .3 micrometers in diameter, and have no more
than .044 psi in pressure drop when the normal amount of air flow is moving
through the filter.

Most media air cleaners are not HEPA standard. HEPA air cleaners are usually
not part of the AC equipment and are a separate product to be installed
in the home or the home’s ductwork. A “true” HEPA filtration
system is usually quite expensive, but in cases where a person has certain
allergies, they can be quite effective at helping relieve certain symptoms.

My house is so dusty and there is dirt around my vents on the ceiling,
should I have my ductwork cleaned?

Duct cleaning when needed is a great service to have done on your home. However, most
homes don’t need to have the ducts cleaned. Here is why: When we
remove an air handler to replace it, if there dirt in the ductwork, we
typically find it within the first 1 to 5 ft. of where the air handler
connects to the ductwork. This is usually removed and replaced when we
see this. The dirt that most folks see that looks like it is coming from
the vents is actually coming from attic. As air flows through the vent,
the velocity actually sucks air from around the vent and pulls air through
the cracks around the vent where it meets the drywall. The best way to
eliminate this from happening is to seal the duct/boot where it meets
the drywall. This also eliminates leakage of hot air migrating from the
attic into your home!

Should I turn my thermostat off during the summer when I am not at home?

No, you should not do this. When this is done you allow your homes interior
and furnishings to absorb the heat of the day. When you get home and turn
on your AC system, you homes heat gain now has to be handled at the peak
part of the days heat, using more energy and causing more wear and tear.
Not to mention the amount of humidity that is gained with the unit not
running during the daytime when you are away. Try using a programmable
thermostat that will allow you to set your temperature back when gone
or manually set back your thermostat when you leave. Utility providers
and industry experts recommend no more than 3 degrees from your normal
comfort setting when setting your thermostat for when you are gone.